Source documentsMedia Articles - 2000s

Last updated
20 June 2004

THE CONSEQUENCES of illicit drugs are so dangerous and well- documented it's
unnecessary -- perhaps even foolish -- to embellish on the inevitable outcomes
for those reckless enough to abuse them.

Drugs can cause immense physical, mental and emotional damage for users,
and immeasurable suffering for families and friends, too. Clearly, the best
defense against substance abuse is education and examples to illustrate the
personal devastation.

That's why the uproar over Narconon Drug Prevention and Education, the popular
anti-drug program that is administered for free to public schoolchildren in
San Francisco and elsewhere, is so disturbing.

After 13 years, Narconon, funded and staffed by the Church of Scientology,
is being accused of using misleading and inaccurate information -- "irresponsible
. . . pseudoscience'' is what a host of medical experts are calling it.

Among the debunked teachings are Narconon claims that drugs are stored in
body fat, creating cravings and flashbacks that can be remedied with perspiration
and vitamins.

But worse than flawed science are indications that lessons are imbued with
religion -- "all the Scientology . . . basics," according to church
data obtained by The Chronicle.

Narconon denies the charges. Still, schools chief Arlene Ackerman has given
Narconon until June 24 to revise parts of its curriculum or be barred from
the district, and state Superintendent Jack O'Connell wants the program probed.

Ackerman and O'Connell have rightly moved swiftly to makes sure students
get sound scientific information about drugs without any hype or hint of theology.